Gaga, Missy Elliott in Tears After Getting Billboard Honors

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Lady Gaga and Missy Elliott were in tears Friday as they discussed the struggles they faced in their careers at an event honoring women in the music industry.

Gaga was named Billboard's woman of the year, while Elliott — who has largely stayed out of the spotlight in recent years, save for a surprise Super Bowl appearance, but returned last month with a new single — was dubbed innovator of the year.

Gaga — who earned a Grammy nomination Monday and a Golden Globe nod on Thursday — grew emotional onstage when she spoke about her struggles to find her voice in the industry.

"It's really hard sometimes for women in music. It's like a (expletive) boys club we can't get into. Sorry grandma," she said. "I've tried for so long. I just wanted to be taken seriously as a musician."

Gaga was introduced to the stage by her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, who said piano lessons as a child helped the pop star discover her gift for music. The singer ended her speech with strong words for those who doubted her in the past: "But I can write songs and I can sing."

Elliott, too, was emotional in a 6-minute speech that earned a standing ovation louder than any other Friday afternoon. The rapper, who recently returned with the single "WTF (Where They From)" after years away from the spotlight, cried throughout her speech.

"I was that kid that used to write on my mother's walls ... I just had songs written all over the walls ... (and) as time went on I realized I was different and unique and not a follower," she said. "I've had my ups and downs, there's times I've wanted to give up, but God had another plan for me and if it had not been for him, I would not be standing here."

Billboard's event also gave the leading ladies a chance to celebrate their Grammy nominations, which were announced Monday.

And while Gaga earned a Grammy nod for best song written for visual media for "Til It Happens To You" — from the sexual assault documentary "The Hunting Ground" — she was also rejoicing because of her Golden Globe nomination for acting.

"It feels great because I really care about my work as an actress and I spend a lot of time on it and you never know if people can see that or if they just think, 'You're a musician who wants to do everything,' and that's not me at all," said Gaga, whose role on FX's "American Horror Story: Hotel" earned her a nomination for best actress in a miniseries or motion picture made for television. "I love acting and I put so much of myself into it when I'm working, so to be recognized is so amazing."